Cullen Jones
At age five Cullen Jones nearly drowned while splashing around at a Pennsylvania water park. Immediately after that incident his mother Debra enrolled him in swim lessons and it soon became clear that Jones had natural talent as a swimmer. Jones was born on February 29, 1984 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Jones grew up in Irvington, New Jersey. He started his age group swimming career with the Metro Express Marlins Swim Team in West Orange, New Jersey before switching to the Jersey Gators Swim Team in Cranford, New Jersey. In those years, Jones was one of a small number of African-American competitors in the sport, but now he uses his notoriety and influence to inspire more children from minority communities to become swimmers.
College
Jones headed to Raleigh, North Carolina to attend North Carolina State University and quickly solidified himself as one of the greatest sprinters in ACC history. Jones attended NC State from 2002 to 2006. During that time he was a four-time ACC champion and the 2006 NCAA Division 1 champion in the 50 free with a time of 19.18. Jones also won the 50 free at the 2005 World University Games. That 50 free win made …